The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1887-05-07
The Panic Of Leprosy.

mOunfHlf
labored, and brought forth mouse: bu
certainly not the animal recognized ant
pescribed by BIOLOGISTS, as mouse. An
unwarranted and shamefully false re.
port, was in circulation and its destruc.
five powers like fire on the prairies thai
the Leprosy ragged in st. Martinsville
On appli cation of the citizens of thai
town to the Board of Health of the Sta te
of Louisiana, a committee of investiga-
tion visited st. Martin on the 9th. ult..
TO ascertain the Truth, or stamp the
falsity of the report. The committee
was composed of Drs. Holt, president of
the Board of Health, Salomon also of
the Board. and Henry VIM. Blanc Pro-
fessor and Lecturer on Dermatology, or
Skin diseases in the Tulane University.
On the arrival of these gentlemen, Mayor
Gardemal telegraghed the Mayors of
several towns of the adjoining parishes,
and they in return sent the choice of the
profession; and on the 2Sth., a galaxy
of talent was by DR.. Holt convoked and
constituted into Commission of In
vestigation." They commenced labor
at a. IN, and with slight intermission
continued till 6 p. m, as a delIberative
body about to decide fact, that would
prove fatal to every vital interest of the
community the deep interest elected,
was equal to the gravity of the occasion.
DIR. Jos. Hollis ''Personnel'' reminds of
the late Stephen A. Douglas; the Doctor
has distinguished himself in several po-
sitiOns of honor and trust, to which he
was called by the State of Louisiana,
which resulted i'm immense benefit to the
State, and to the United States. whether
in proportional profit TO himself is a
quandary. His address before the con-
ference of the American "ohippiDg and
Industrial League" held at Pensacola,
Fla, November 1886, truly proved him a
Little Giant" In his opening address
before the commission here, it was in
teresting to notice as he advanced with
his "Suaviture in Modo" and ''Tortiter in
Re-" and gained control over that circle
of minds who had their share of preju-
dices and opinions; and produced a uni
ty and harmony of interest in the impor-
tant task that lay before them, that
smOOthed over many difficulties. And
here let me add; that as one of the
Board of Health of this town, my con-
scientious duty to its Town Council, its
community and myself; obliges Inc TO
set forth that the large number of cases
down to three considered as absolute
LeprOsy, and three doubtful. The COM
mittee from New Orleans was the body
solicited to diagnose the disease, so,, a., !,
them the responsibility devolved. Pr,
fessor Blanc conducted the direct inves-
tigatiOn, Anesthesia or deadened seusi-
bility of the skin was one Of his diagnos-
tics to ascertain which he freely used a
pin touching the skin in various parts
the result of which l do not think was
very satisfactory to him; patches of
thickened skin were another, and they
are to be found in all strum0us diseases,
aye, and in the Examine Mata or erup-
tive diseases, the Lion set festures of the
countenance impressed DR.. Holt as dia-
gnostic but the SANE features in advan-
ced stages Anenic diseases is to be seen;
and in the advanced stages of Tertiary
Syphilis where the small brown blotches,
the softening Of the nasal bones, the in